Obstruction detection means for material handling device

ABSTRACT

An obstruction detecting device is disclosed for material handling systems such as an automatic storage system wherein a stacker vehicle with a lateral platform is utilized to transfer material units between the vehicle and a selected storage bin. Probe means are mounted adjacent the lateral platform and a probe element is adapted to move through a portion of the selected bin to detect the presence of an obstruction in the bin. The probe element includes an actuator which causes pivotal motion thereof in response to positioning of the platform in alignment with the bin. The probe means is provided with signal means to disable the power operator for the lateral platform if a material unit or other obstruction is encountered in the bin and to enable the power operator if the bin is empty.

United States Patent Burch et al. 14 1 June 20, 1972 [54] DESTRUCTIONDETECTION MEANS 2,786,910 3/1957 Tyska ..2o0/61 .44 FOR MATERIALHANDLING DEVICE 2,941,738 6/1960 Burke et al... ....2l4ll6.4 A 3,139,9947/1964 ....2l4/l6.4A I 1 lnvmww Arum! llmhi Plamwelli Cm 3,3s9,a146/1968 Lemelson ..214/16.4 A

Bates, Battle Creek, both of Mich. 3 Cl k ulpmem C PrimaryExanflner-Gerald M. Forlenza [7 1 lame u M Assistant Examiner-R. B.Johnson [22] Filed: July 23, 1970 Attorney-Kenneth C. Witt, John C.Wiessler, Robert H. [21] App]. No: 57,747 Johnson and Leuns J. Lamm RmU.S.Applicntion nm [571 ABSTRACT [62] Division of Ser. NO. 543,229,April 18, 1966, Pat. N0. dimlmdfm *3"- 3,535,209 dllng systems such asan automatic storage system wherem a stacker vehicle with a lateralplatform is utilized to transfer 52 us. 01. .214 16.4 214 730 mama] and:51: Int. Cl 116s 1/o6 mm mum! adiamn and a 58 Field (Search 314/73016.4 16.4 A 1643- Probe is mam"d Zoo/61.4, i 153 selected bin to detectthe presence of an obstruction in the bin. The probe element includes anactuator which causes pivotal motion thereof in response to positioningof the plat- [561 form in alignment with the bin. The probe means isprovided Nl ED S T IS with signal means to disable the power operatorfor the lateral platform if a material unit or other obstruction isencountered 2,334,849 1 H1943 Toney ..200/6l.44 i the bin d to cnablethc power operaor i the bin is empty 2,352,692 7/1944 Dann ..200/6l.442,45 l ,368 10/1948 White et aims..."...............2l4/16.4 A lClllln,38 Drawing mum PATENTEDJUHZO m2 3. 670, 905

sum 02m 31 1\ wzx IURS ARTHUR R. BURCH 2 CHARLES zi s Ters ATTORNEYSPATENTEDJUHZO m2 SHEET [13 (1F 31 I I l.

I INVENTORS ARTHUR H. BURCH, CHARLES E. BATES ATTORNEYS PATENTEDmzo W2SHEET D 4 BF INVENTOR5 ARTHUR R BURCH, CHARLES E BATES ZTTORWEYSPATENTEMunzo I972 SHEET 05 DF INVENTORS ARrHuR R BuRcR,

CHARLES E BATES ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJUHZOIUTE SHEET [15 0F W E MR i .Sm G3E mam Sm; Tm

PATENTEnIIIIIzo I972 3. 670.905

sum 07 or 31 TRANSFER CART DIRECTION OF TRAVEL AIsLE NUMBERS 830 RS8 W\A RS3 W o- RS9 RS4 RSIO RS5 N 564 RS H w 4/ SHOWN AT AISLE NO.|

VERTICAL BIN RS295 o 5 NUMBERS RS29-4 o 4 Rs29-3 o 3 RS29-2 g N 2 RS23-III HOME S HOWN IN H0 ME POSITION FIG 23 mawwa,

CHARL S E. F nns-s ATTORNEYS PATENTEIhunzo m2 SHEET 08 0F 31 L3 l 0 L2so u TRANSFER CART POWER COLLECTORS SERVO CIRCUITS L! TO MOTOR COMP AIRIN DC POWER SUPPLY HSVAC o +24v0c -24voc R CR CR6 CR5 iNITlATE TRANSFERLtcnu --1: r

j PBi-l CRI CR4 2 |-4 R CR4 l 5 a l DISCONNECT LOCKS 5.5 soL.2

6 F? ,L CONNECT LOCKS AIR LOCK UMIT SWITCHES MAX, TRAVEL LIMITS ACTUjTETRANSFE R 7 454 L52 OPEN WHEN LOCKED CR4 8 W H v 0 R n (sspvo 59) L55L56 PEI-2 I PERM. CR5 CR4 5:3 MAGNET A c H H CR5 1,6,4 a

CR [4 Jll 5. EM-l \6.4 e 6} I RSI T-C. ENABLE V I N VEA TORS ARTHUR R.BURCH CHARLES E. BATES ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJUHZO m2 3. 670. 905

sum 13 [1F 31 INVENTOR5 ARTHUR R. BURCH,

ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJUIQO I172 SHEEI' 1 4 IF INVENTORS BIN NUMBERS FIG I)?QL CKER DIRECTION OF TRAVEL SHOWN ARTHUR R BURCH CHARLES E. 54755ATTOR/VE Y5 PATENTEDJun 20 1912 SHEET 1 8 []F MUQ Q QM

INVENTORS AkrHuR R BURCH, CHARLES E BATES PATENTEnJuu 2 0 I972 SHEET 17[IF l lli FIG 16 INVENTORS ARTHUR R BURCH, CHARLES E BATES 'XTTORNEYSPATENTEDmzo m SHEU 18 UF INVENTORi ARTHUR H! Bum/1, CHARLES 225i)"nrromvns PATENTEDJUHZO m2 3. 670,905

sum 19 0F 31 INVENTORS ARTHUR R BURCH,

CHARLES E 3/1 755 Min fwd A 7' TORNE Y5

1. In an automatic storage system for material-units which comprises abin structure including an aisle with bins disposed at multiple stationsalong the aisle, a stacker vehicle movable in the aisle and including alateral platform movable laterally of the stacker vehicle fortransferring a material-unit between the vehicle and a selected bin, apower operator connected with the lateral platform, and controlling theoperation thereof and a probe means adjacent the platform and rigidlymounted to said platform capable of controlling said power operatorcomprising: a probe assembly pivotally mounted on and as a part of saidprobe means adapted to be pivotally moved through a portion of theselected bin, the axis of swing formed by the pivot mount is fixedrelative to the probe means a first switch rigidly mounted on and a partof said probe means and electrically connected to said power operatorand adapted to enable operation of said power operator when said bin isunobstructed, a second switch rigidly mounted on and a part of saidpivotally mounted probe assembly and electrically connected to saidpower operator and adapted to prevent operation of said power operatorwhen said bin is obstructed, a switch actuating probe element rigidlymounted on one end of and a part of said pivotally mounted probeassembly and biased out of contact with but capable of being forced intocontact with and thereby actuate said second switch and preventoperation of said power operator when said bin is obstructed and saidobstruction is contacted by said probe element during the pivotalmovement of said probe assembly, a switch actuating surface on the otherend of said probe assembly capable of contacting and thereby actuatingsaid first switch to enable the operation of said power means when saidprobe assembly completes its pivotal movement through said selected binwithout encountering an obstruction, actuating means coupled with theprobe assembly to cause pivotal movement thereof into the selected bin,said actuator comprising an electrical magnet with reciprocal armatureand motion transmitting means operatively connected between saidarmature and said probe assembly for causing pivotal motion thereof inresponse to movement of said armature, means for energizing saidelectromagnet previous to energizing said power operator, whereby saidprobe assembly is first pivotally actuated into said selected bin andsaid power operator is de-energized to prevent operation thereof whensaid movable probe element engages an obstruction in said bin and saidpower operator is energized to enable operation thereof when said probeelement moves through a portion of said selected bin and completes itspivotal movement without engaging an obstruction.